INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The
Indianapolis Star has won the top reporting award and Thomas J. Russo got top
honors for photography in the annual Indiana Associated Press Media Editors
contest.

Also honored at the
IAPME's annual meeting Friday were Adam Kiefer of Indiana University, who was
given the Will Counts award for student photojournalism, and AP staffer Brian
Slodysko, who was presented the Dale W. Burgess award for service to Indiana media
organizations.

A Star project detailing
the broad impact of the city's more than 6,800 abandoned houses won the Kent
Cooper Award, chosen from among top entries in all the contest's news
categories. The Tribune-Star in Terre Haute placed second for "City on the
Brink," and the Greenfield Daily Reporter took third place for
"Absent from Jobs."

Russo received the John
A. Bushemi award, chosen by a vote of news organizations attending the event
after reviewing top photo winners in all categories.

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Here is a full list of
winners:

Indiana APME winners
list in Division I:

Best Spot News Coverage:
1, The Indianapolis Star, "The RFRA Fix"; 2, The Times of northwest
Indiana, "E.C. Council Member Arrested, Charged with Murder"; 3, The
Indianapolis Star, "Jared Fogle Search".

Best Spot News Coverage:
1, The Indianapolis Star, "The RFRA Fix"; 2, The Times of northwest
Indiana, "E.C. Council Member Arrested, Charged with Murder"; 3, The
Indianapolis Star, "Jared Fogle Search".

About the Author

Rob Burgess is a nine-time award-winning journalist who has extensive experience leading newsrooms and working in television, podcasts, radio, print and online. Most recently, he was News Editor of NUVO; Managing Editor of the Indiana Lawyer; and City Editor, Opinion Page Editor, and Editorial Board Member at the Kokomo Tribune. He was also a reporter at WFHB, the Times-Mail, The Reporter-Times, Ukiah Daily Journal and Ukiah Valley Television. Email: robertandertonburgess@gmail.com